More than 800 High River homes ranked 'enter at your own risk' or worse in first re-entry area

Sherri Zickefoose, Calgary Herald07.06.2013

Evacuees had to go through a long line up to get information to get into their homes in High River on June 29, 2013. They need to register at a welcoming centre for info on what shape their homes are in and for passes.Lorraine Hjalte
/ Calgary Herald

Rick Hansen and his son Kyle observe the damage to the golf course in High River. Evacuees were lining up to try to get back to their homes in High River on June 29, 2013. They need to register at a welcoming centre for info on what shape their homes are in and for passes.Lorraine Hjalte
/ Calgary Herald

Associate minister of regional recovery Rick Fraser, with press secretary Mike Feenstra, was on hand to talk to people who had been evacuated out of High River as they lines up for information to get back into their homes on June 29, 2013. They need to register at a welcoming centre for info on what shape their homes are in and for passes.Lorraine Hjalte
/ Calgary Herald

Huge pumps are trying to empty a big lake of water in the southeast corner of High River. Evacuees were lining up to try to get back to their homes in High River on June 29, 2013. they need to register at a welcoming centre for info on what shape their homes are in and for passes.Lorraine Hjalte
/ Calgary Herald

Signs in the window indicate the services needed in the northwest corner of High River were evacuees were allowed back into their homes in on June 29, 2013. They need to register at a welcoming centre for info on what shape their homes are in and for passes.Lorraine Hjalte
/ Calgary Herald

HIGH RIVER — An uneasy mix of typical suburbia and ghost town greeted the first group of High River homeowners returning to their flood-ravaged town.

While nearly all streets remained empty on Saturday, about 5,000 residents returned after provincial officials enacted the first of a three-phase re-entry plan, allowing owners of 1,817 northwest homes to see for themselves the devastating water damage in some parts of town and, in other cases, untouched properties with merely overgrown lawns.

Indeed, some empty streets and children’s play parks appeared left in pristine condition. But more than 140 homes will clearly have to be demolished, residents learned Saturday, swallowed up by murky high water that shows only slight signs of receding.

More than 950 residents were told Saturday they can move back in. For many, the first steps on the road home were emotional.

“I just want to go see my neighbours,” said Courtney Charles, whose home was rated as habitable.

Others weren’t so lucky — and were clearly shocked by what they saw on their 30-minute tour of their town.

Many roads remain impassable. Underwater neighbourhoods, including the Sunshine Lake area, are uninhabitable.

The Highwood golf course has largely vanished, with its closely clipped grass now caked in thick layers of mud cracked like flagstone.

Kyle Hansen’s home backs onto the fourth hole, which was his favourite par 5 on the course. Ten days after he was forced to flee, his view includes a field of the brownish-grey dried mud.

“Happy to be back, but sad for all the mess,” he said.

Garage doors are twisted, vehicles swept off to the side, debris littering the ground.

The town remains under a state of emergency, with the majority of its 13,000 inhabitants displaced.

More residents may be allowed in between three and five days, officials said.

Crews are assessing houses and businesses for the second of three phases of the community re-entry plan.

“Here’s the problem: as the assessment teams go through, we don’t know what’s under the ground, we don’t know the state of the sewer system, we don’t know the state of the gas infrastructure,” said Shane Schrieber, acting director of emergency management.

Of 500 businesses needing inspections, nearly 130 are complete.

On Saturday, 639 homes were listed as “green” (habitable), 318 as “yellow” (requiring cleanup but livable) and 719 as “orange” (damaged and enter at your own risk).

There are 141 listed as red, which means they are uninhabitable and dangerous.

In neighbourhoods like Sunshine Lake and Hampton Hills, the high water levels are slow to recede, leaving many walkout basements fully submerged.

While crews have placed large pumps to remove the muddy river water, the levels remain high above ground level.

“There’s no place to pump,” said Schreiber.

Many families remain frustrated and are anxious to re-enter the town to see the damage for themselves. They want to start moving forward with their lives.

“We ask for your patience in this, safety is the No. 1 priority,” said Rick Fraser, associate minister of regional recovery and reconstruction.

“It’s not an easy time.”

Fraser spent time Saturday speaking with residents waiting in long queues at the reception centre.

“We’re trying to turn the page here on this moment in history of High River,” he added. “The emotion is an extreme roller-coaster.”

Like thousands of her fellow townsfolk, Heather Dupont started her Saturday morning driving up to massive lines along a dirt road and highway, waiting to enter the reception centre on the community’s rodeo grounds.

Whiling away two hours under the broiling summer sun, Dupont cheerfully made her way down the lineup, voluntarily delivering chilled water bottles, soda and sugar cookies to the waiting masses. Many were seniors.

By 3 p.m., Dupont was in her home, assessed in the green category: habitable.

“I’m one of the lucky ones. I’m sleeping in my own bed tonight. I feel guilty. So many people lost so much,” said Dupont, who watched on television as her mother was rescued by boat during the flood on television.

Emotions are running high for residents, whether they lost their homes or not, she added.

“Everyone’s stressed. It’s like grieving a loss. It’s a small town, I think it’s going to bring us closer together.”

For generations, High River residents have withstood hard work farming and ranching. Now, they’ll be pioneers of a new frontier, added one man.

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Share

More than 800 High River homes ranked 'enter at your own risk' or worse in first re-entry area

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.